Fatal jetboat accident investigations underway
26/9/2008 17:56
A multi-agency investigation is underway after a Chinese woman died and
seven members of her tour group were injured when a jetboat flipped on the
Shotover River near Queenstown yesterday, the New Zealand Press Association
reported today.
The woman's body was found under the upturned boat and some
of her companions said they asked rescuers to look under the boat after they
realized one of their party was missing.
But they said their requests were
initially denied and it wasn' t until about 90 minutes after the crash that the
body of the woman was found under the 2.5 ton jet boat.
Media at the scene
also reported hearing passengers telling rescuers to have a look under the
upturned boat.
Detective Sergeant Graham Bartlett said that length of time
was a feature of the police investigation.
Chinese ambassador Zhang limin is
in Queenstown amid growing concern about the rescue way that was handled after
the accident.
He is expected to visit the scene of the tragedy and help
police with an inquiry.
Kawarau Jet, New Zealand 's first commercial jetboat
operation, has suspended operations and director Andrew Brinsley described the
incident as the blackest in the company's 47-year history.
He said the
jetboat hit a sandbar. River conditions were ideal and every possible safety
measure was in place, said Brinsley.
The Southland Times reported today that
in a tragic twist, the group had not intended to go jet boating but their day
trip to Milford Sound was canceled yesterday because of the massive slip on the
Te Anau-Milford road.
Xinhua
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